I was contacted recently by a customer on Folksy who wished me to adapt a previous Dartmoor design she liked to fit an internal window in her Peak District home. Having had a bit of time off over Christmas it has been great to get back into the studio and get on with a new project. As this is adapted from an existing design it has been a straight forward process. I have used Spectrum wispy amethyst and a range of cathedral glass, 10 mm lead came for the border and 5 and 6 mm for the internal lead work.

First of all I cut the glass using a glass cutter and ensure all the pieces fit within the lines of the cutting pattern.

I then build up the window by cutting the lead came to size and building up the panel, using horse shoe nails to hold it all tightly in place.

Once I have soldered all the lead joins together with solder I cement the panel by pushing lead cement into all the gaps in the lead came, this is quite messy work and my least favourate part of the process. The white powder is plaster of Paris, used to soak up the liquid in the cement and act as an abrasive to remove the cement from the lead came.

Once the cement has dried and all the excess cement has been removed I wash an acid patina over the panel to darken the solder joints and once this has been washed off I give the panel a good polish with grate polish.

Then the finished panel is ready to pack up and send off to its new home.

A lovely couple from near Hereford came to pick up their finished panel today, they were on holiday in Devon for the weekend, so I had to get it done by lunchtime today!
I enjoyed making this 28×74 cm panel to replace the window in an internal hallway. The lady who commissioned the piece wanted the elements of an angel motif and peacock feathers. Her partners name is angel in German and her mothers maiden name was Peacock, This is what I came up with!
The panel has an etched glass face, acid etched feathers in the right bottom corner and uses a range of cathedral and water glass in rich blues and yellows. I think that this design has worked very well and I cant wait to see the photos of it when it is fitted into its window frame!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Now I can get straight on with the next commission, I have several commissions on my list at the moment, this time for a front door and of a seascape! Its coming into busy craft fair season and I am doing lots of fairs in the run up to Christmas, starting at the weekend with a full weekend of craft fairs!
I have a stall at the Contemporary Home Handmade Fair Saturday 30th October at Victory Hall, Exminster from 10 am -4 pm
Sunday 31st October I will be at the PrettyPoshLocal Craft Fair at the Pavilion, Exmouth from 10-4pm